Remember the living room, the dining room, the den, and yes, the home theater? Those rooms all seemed to have a specific purpose. The trend in home design has gotten away from that. No, we're not saying houses don't have those rooms anymore. But the trend toward more casual lifestyles has also led to a tendency to more open concept homes, where kitchens may well be the ultimate multi-purpose room, and other rooms pull double or triple duty as well.

In our media-filled world, another trend is to have audio and video entertainment practically everywhere in the home. Your office computer or laptop handily doubles as an entertainment device. Whole home audio setups can put music in every room, and outdoors too. Flat-panel TVs and wireless connections have made it so that you can have one on a wall anywhere - including the kitchen.  So we can have our content anywhere and everywhere, but we may be doing more than listening or watching in all of those places - we may be multitasking; cooking, doing homework, returning email and messages, and connecting to our work remotely.

There was a time when things like watching TV or listening to music, were more focused affairs. And a trend is afoot to return to more concentrated enjoyment of content, especially with music. But our homes with their open design and multipurpose rooms tend to limit that. The answer many are turning to is the listening room.

Just what is a listening room? It can be any room in your home where you can comfortably sit - without distraction - and listen to your favorite music. Scientific studies abound about the benefits of music, but you probably don't need the science to know how good music can make you feel - especially when you are relaxed and focused on listening.

If you think that a listening room sounds like an idea whose time has come in your Eden Prairie home - and you want to know more, just read on. We're going to tell you how to transform your music experience with a listening room and great speakers from Bowers and Wilkins (B&W).

Recently we wrote on these pages about Meridian Audio and the unique digital processing technology they apply to their electronics and speakers. The company's long history in digital has contributed to standards such as the DVD-Audio disc and Dolby TrueHD, and more recently they were the driving force behind MQA, the emerging standard for distributing lossless, high-resolution audio over the internet.

While their unparalleled digital audio chops are well known in hi-fi audio circles, you might not think of Meridian when it comes to home theater audio. However, they bring their digital audio processing magic to home theaters as well. In an all-Meridian system, the speakers are self-powered and the audio travels to them in digital form, keeping the signal pure until it gets converted to analog sound at the speaker.

In whole home and many home theater installations, clients want in-wall speakers for an integrated look that doesn’t upset the décor. You might be wondering if something like a powered, digital in-wall speaker is possible – it is. Meridian has developed two new in-wall digital speakers, the DSP520 and the DSP640, to make sleek hi-fi and home theater applications a reality with their unique high-resolution audio processing.

As powered in-wall speakers clearly have some differences from conventional powered speakers, Meridian has taken an extra step to ensure that their products deliver the ultimate in audio performance. They have a free design service for custom integrators like Lelch Audio-Video to make it easy to incorporate Meridian technology for home theaters and whole home installations. So if you want the powerful, detailed high-resolution audio quality of Meridian in your Woodbury home, now you can have it in your home cinema and throughout the house.

To learn more about a Meridian system for home theaters and whole home audio, just keep reading.

Nothing is more important than keeping your family safe at all times. Do you know what steps to take to protect your Lakeville, MN home adequately? Installing a home security system is only the first one. Security is a multi-faceted effort, and how you use your system and the features you decide to include make a huge difference. Getting a few locks and an alarm won't do the trick. Our technology offers advanced tools to give you peace of mind. On top of that, we'll show you how some small adjustments to your family routines help as well.

At Lelch Audio Video, we want your home experience to be as convenient, intuitive and safe as possible -- with no strings attached. That’s why we highly recommend motorized shades for your Eden Prairie, MN, home. When integrated with your other smart home technologies, automated window treatments provide the next layer of comfort and style to your residence or getaway.

Home technology should always feel simple to use. Without cords, you can tap a button, speak a command or set a scene, and your shades will act accordingly. Lelch AV would like to create this experience for you. Imagine the possibilities when you can open your home to the beautiful Minnesota scenery, protect your privacy and more  while losing the cords. Keep reading to learn how smarter shades can make a difference in your home.

Even though most people invest in smart home technology for convenience, families end up using it in widely different ways. Some stick to pragmatic approaches like using voice control in the kitchen while others go all out and use lighting control for elaborate Christmas displays. In our time as Control4 Platinum Dealers in Minneapolis, MN we’ve seen all sort of smart home scopes and uses.

How you decide to use yours is up to you. Our job is to give you the best tools and support to make sure you can execute all your unique ideas. Now with the When à Then feature from Control4, it's easier than ever for you to add new settings and scenes to your system as inspiration hits. To get you started, we've compiled some interesting uses and requests we've seen from previous clients. 

When we talk about smart lighting solutions, we often emphasize the convenience and luxury of controlling your lighting when, where and how you choose.

However, we’ve never discussed in detail how much your health can improve from circadian-based lighting within your Minnetonka, Minnesota, home. Today, we’ll reveal some basic information about Ketra’s tunable lighting, and how it can boost your productivity or help you relax, both critical factors in our wellbeing.

For four years running, Control4 has been named the top home automation company by technology professionals. Easy to implement with its intuitive, graphic-based user interface, it’s a favorite among both installers and homeowners. Though it’s one of the most accessible automation companies on the market, you still need a professional to enjoy its products and features.

As you prepare for your next smart home installation, the first step is finding a reliable Control4 dealer in your area. Not only do you need a company that has experience with the technology, but someone officially certified and with a proven track record of getting it to work in a variety of ways.

Don’t know what to look for when starting your search? Here we provide some questions you should answer before reaching out to your local Control4 Platinum Dealer in Edina, MN.

Home security systems are a significant investment when it comes to protecting your family. Every detail needs to be considered to make sure you have a solution that directly addresses the needs for your Woodbury, MN home. Especially now that smart technology components are regularly part of the mix, it can be challenging to figure out exactly which features you need to include.

As experts in both security and smart home control, we are glad to help you through the process. Though a one-on-one consultation is the best way to design a custom solution, there are a few questions you should have in mind before scheduling your initial meeting. Having a general idea of the things you may discuss during the call will help you prepare for optimal results.

SEE MORE: How to Embrace a Smarter Home Security